Lurie Expresses Excitement For Season Ahead

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Jeffrey Lurie was just as excited about his team as fans in 2013. He understands expectations are high in 2014.

The Eagles owner met with the media after his team’s training camp workout on Wednesday. After watching his team capture the NFC East title a year ago, Lurie knows the bar has been raised for the upcoming season. Lurie also believes this edition of the Eagles may be just getting started.

“I feel like we have an excellent young team,” said Lurie. “We need to get better. Stay humble, get better and practice hard. It’s not that complicated.”

Much more will be expected of Lurie’s team throughout the NFL. After being picked by many to finished last before the start of the 2013 season, the Eagles are the favorites to win the NFC East in 2014. Lurie is confident his players will keep their focus on the field.

“They don’t know about how to classify themselves or how to compete with last year,” Lurie said. “I think you just be quiet about it, work at it and get better. The fact that everyone is used to a lot of the schemes on our part allows for better execution.”

That familiarity with Chip Kelly’s system could make the Eagles a Super Bowl contender. Lurie had high praise for his coach and talked about similarities between Kelly and former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson.

“There are some similarities there,” said Lurie. “Jimmy was very cognizant of what it takes to bring a team together. He had a feel for what brings 53 men together and Chip has a lot of those qualities. He knows what it takes to have a common purpose to bring people together.”

Lurie has owned the Eagles for 20 years and has seen his share of success with his franchise. The one thing Lurie has not seen during his time in Philadelphia is a Super Bowl title. For Lurie, it remains the grand prize he longs for.

“I’m obsessed with it,” Lurie said. “I think if you love the sport as much as I do and you love this team and the city as much as I do, that’s the ultimate goal. Until that happens, it’s a hunger. Even if it does happen, it will be a hunger. You don’t want to just be satisfied because it happened once.”

Eagles defensive lineman Bennie Logan returned to practice on Wednesday after missing time with a hamstring injury. Kelly said the injuries which have sidelined Riley Cooper (foot), Chris Polk (hamstring) and Julian Vandervelde (back) are not serious injuries, and all three should return to action soon.

Ed Benkin has been reporting sports for KYW Newsradio since April 2004, but he’s long been a familiar face in the KYW newsroom and around the Delaware Valley.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in South Jersey, Benkin attended Cherokee High School in...